I have in my basement 100 shallow frames, unbuilt, for honey supers. As I move to all medium boxes, I wondered if I could take the top and bottom bars of the frames and substitute end bars for medium boxes instead of the end bars for shallows that I have now.
FWIW, Walter Kelley carries what they call "frame repair parts" and I can order 100 end bars for medium boxes without having to order all new frames -
Thought you all would like to know.
Linda T in Atlanta
Brushy Mountain also sells just the medium end bars.
So does Rossman 22 cents each.
WTKelley is 100 for $12.00
Rossman: 100 for $22.00
Brushy Mtn: 100 for $20.05
My math is terrible so I may not have it right.....
Others may also sell them - the relief for me is knowing that you CAN buy them separately!
Linda T in Atlanta
Don't panic, if you have 100 frames you will need 200 ends. :roll:
doak
They will fit better if you get the end bars from the same manufacturer, but most can be made to fit. Kelley's has a double box joint on the bottom and ends. The rest seem reasonably interchangeable. Yes, all the frame manufacturers only make one top and bottom and the difference between a shallow and a medium is just the end bars.
Thanks, Doak - see what I mean about math! :?
Actually I only have 50 frames, so maybe counting is my problem as well as math! I'd like to order the end bars from the same manufacturer but I bought them from Dadant who doesn't appear from their website to sell the end bars separately.
Not only do I have those in my basement but I also have a set of 10 deep frames that I won as a Bee meeting door prize and thought I'd never use - but now I can at least use the top and bottom bars. :roll:
Linda T in Atlanta
Try calling Dadant and I'll bet they will sell them. If not, try Mann Lake. Theirs seem to be built the same as Dadant's and Brushy Mt.'s. I like Kelley's, but they will be built differently. Western Bee Supply's should fit, as they make all of Dadant's equipment (because they are owned by Dadant).
FWIW,
I didn't understand the pricing on Brushy Mountain - they sell 10 end bars for $2.05 - enough to do 5 frames. So you could outfit a 10 frame box for $4.10 or an 8 frame for $4.10 and have 4 end bars left over for the next box.....by far the best deal, but their site still announces at least a 2 week delay on shipping....not that I am in a hurry at the moment but someone may be.
Linda T in Atlanta
Tillie, My web site says 2 days.
Two days is much better than two weeks - when my small swarm arrived and I wanted medium boxes, it said two weeks, so they must have caught up! Hooray..
Linda T in Atlanta